Egypt's treasures in danger

Monuments in the lush north of Egypt are under threat

Archaeologists from all over the world are gathering in Cairo

Egypt's ancient monuments are a major tourist attraction

By Caroline Hawley in Cairo

Egypt is calling for a major salvage operation for the ancient monuments of the northern agricultural region known as the Nile Delta.

Antiquities officials say the archaeological treasures of what was Egypt's gateway to the Mediterranean and Africa are threatened by new building works and rising ground water levels.

The call is being made as archaeologists from around the world gather in Cairo for a key event in the study of ancient Egypt - the International Congress of Egyptologists.

The Congress is held every four years and opens on Tuesday beside the Pyramids.

Southern bias

Until now, most excavation work in Egypt has focused on the south of the country known as Upper Egypt.

It is there that some of the most famous treasures have been discovered, such as the tomb of Tutankhamen in Luxor and the Valley of the Kings and Queens.